Swiveled coupler connection



J. F. OCONNOR SWIVELED COUPLER CONNECTION July 18, 1933.

Filed June 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. F. OCONNOR SWIVELED COUPLER CONNECTION Filed June 4, 1951 flfl July 18,1933.

Patented July 18, 1933 F Y W iT uuasez JOHN F; o connon, or enicaGQanmuors, nssreuoa r w. n; MINER, '1No.,for

onreaeo, rumors, a oonronarron or DELAWARE SWIVELED courgnnn conuncrron" Application filed June 4,

This invention relatesto improvements in swiveled coupler connections,

One object of the invention is-to provide a swiveled coupler connection for draftgears of railway cars, wherein the coupler shank 1s a supported forlateral swinging movement by means swiveled directly on the fixed underframe structure "of the car, thereby providing a rugged supporting and guiding structure for the coupler shank.

A further object 01 the invention is to pro vide a supporting guiding means tor the shank member eta standard coupler, which provides for lateral swinging movement of the coupler without modification of the shank,

lateral swinging movement being obtained by pivotal movement of the supporting and guide means on the fixed underframe structure of the car.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from thedescript on and claims hereinafter following In the drawings, forming apart of tl11S s1 eclfication, Figurel is a horlzontal, long tudinal sectional view through the-underframe structure of a ra1lwa car illustrating my improvementsin connection therewith. Figure 2 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view, corresponding substantiallyv invention. And Figure 5 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view, correspoi'iding sub stantially to the line 55 ot'Figure 4;

Referring first to the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in Figures 1, 2,and 3,

49 10-10 indicate channel-shaped center or draft sills of the railway car undertrameto" the forward ends of whichis secured a combined stop and striking casting 11 having side walls 1212 formedintegral therewith, the side walls 12 being provided with aligned coupler key guide slots 1813.@Thecoupler key guide slots are reinforced along the edges:

of the openings by internal and external flanges 14 -14,the flanges 1% on the inner s des thereof being seated within openingspro 1931. Serial No. 542,647.

videdin the vertical webs of the sills 10-10. A combined filler andrrear'stop casting 15 is fixed to the sills. The shock absorbing mechanism of the railway draft rigging is indicated by 16, the same beingof the friction type and having a triction casingprovided withan integral rear follower member 17. As will be understood, the usual friction'shoes and wedge member cooperate with the friction casing, the wedge member being indicated by 18. Inward movement of the friction shoes with respect to the casing isopposed by the usual spring contained within the casing. A saddle plate. 19 secured to' the bottom flanges of the draft. sills 10-10 slidably supports the friction shell of the shock absorbing mechanism 16.

In carrying out my inventioi'i as illustrated in Figures 1 2. and 3 I provide broadl a \J 9 7 w l coupler A, a yoke B, a carrier sleeve C, a butt block 3, :tront tollowerE, and front stop members I -F;

The coupler A is preferably oithe standurd type,rh" the usual coupler lead 20, part oi l -\vi ich may is shown, and a coupler shank 21 c: ding rearwardly from the head. The .lOL ward portion of the coupler shaun is preferably tapered, as shown in 'Figure 1, while the rear end thereof is of sub stantially uniform cross-section throughout the lengththereot. 'lhe coupler shank is provided with the usualtransverse coupler key o 'iening 22 through which the coupler he 23 eXtendal The yoke l3 of'the horizontal type having }')Zl(jfl,..lOllgllllltllnilll-y extending side arms and a transverse rear connecting sec tiou. The yoke encloses the shock absorbing mechanism 16 and servesto connect the late to the coupler. 'l he side arms of the yoke re iovided with transversely aligned coupier Key guide slots 2l-2'-il:. The carrier sleeve 0 i s iivotally supported most clearly shown in Figure 3, each plate F 1s inwardly offset between the sills lO-1O and is provided with a bearing seat 25 adjacent to theforward end thereof, the bearing seat beingdisposed centrally between the sills l10. Each bearing seat is defined by a bearing opening 26 reinforced by-top and bottom cylindrical flanges surrounding said opening. The bearing openings 26-86 of the bearing seats 25*25 of the two stop members F-F are in vertical alignment, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3; Tile inner end edges of the plates'F.F form the front stops proper of the railway draft rigging and Cooperate with the front follower Ein the usual manner. v

The carriersleeve C is of substantially rectangular cross-section and has spaced verti cal side walls 2? 27, a horizontal top-wall 28, and a horizontal bottonr-wall' 29. The

bottom wall 29.; as shown most clearly in Figures "1 and 2, efrtends forwardly of the side an'd'top-wa-lls and is slidably sup 'mrted at its outer end on the carry iron member 30 oft-he st iking casting 11. The topan'd bottom walls ofthe sleeve C are provided with outstanding vertically aligned trunnion 'members 31-31 which are journaled in the bearing seats 25 of the members -F F. The sic'le walls2727' of the carrier sleeve C are flared outwvardl-y so asto accommodate the flaring portion of the coupler shank therebetween. At the inner ends the side walls are slotted, as indicated at 3:232, to accommodate the compiler key 23 for forward movement in draft. The sleeve portion of-the member C of the yoke B,as clearly shown inFigures 1 and 3;

The butt block D is'provided with a pocket 33 receiving the butt end of the coupler shank. The rear wall'of'the butt block D 1s transversely curved I exteriorly, as

r indicated at 34.; the curvature of said surface being on an arcconcentric to the pivotal of the trunnions of the sleeve C. At the forward end the butt block D bears on the inner en d of the sleeve 0, the top and bottom walls of said huttblock ieing centrally cutaway at fo'rwardends to accommodate the interion bearing flange of the belring seats 49-20. The side walls of the butt bloek are 535 to'accommodate' thecoupler key.

The from follower E, which is interposed between the butt block D and the wedge member lSof the friction shock absorbing mechanism 16; is notched at opposite sides, as indicated, to accommodate the side arms of the yoke. At the forwardside, the follower E is provided with a curved bearingseatS'? which corresponds in curvature to the curved rear surface 34 of the butt block and cooperates therewith. In the operation of the improved railway i embraced between the side armslotted at the forward ends, as indicated at draft rigging, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, upon buifing or inward movement being applied to the coupler A, the butt block D will be forced rearwardly, carrying the follower E therewith and compressing the shock absorbing mechanism 16 between thevfollower and the rear stop casting 15. During this action, lateral swinging movement of the coupler is permitted by the action of the sleeve "C,-whicl1is trunnioned in the top and bottom rear end portion of the butt block without undue friction between these parts. As will be evident, the forwardly projecting section of the bottom wall ofthe carrier-sleeve for the coupler shank supports the V coupler shank forwardly of the keyed connection thereof with the yoke, thereby preventing drooping of the coupler head and maintaining the,

alignment of the parts. 7

Upon outward movement of the coupler in draft, the yoke will be pulled forwardly therewith through the action of the coupler key, thereby effecting compression of the shock absorbing mechanism 16 against the front follower E'which'at such time is held stationary by engagement with the stop members F-F.i During the'draft action, the coupler shank will be pulled outwardly with respect to thesleeve C, the necessary forward movement of the coupler key being accommo dated by the slots 32-32 in theside walls of the-sleeve. Lateralzswinging movement of the coupler shank during draftaction is permitted by the swiveling movement of the sleeve@ whichis free to turn on the trunnion members thereof. 7

v 7 Referring next to the embodiment of the invention-illustrated in Figures 4c and 5, the center or draft sills of the railway carunderframe are indicatedby 110--110, and the striking casting by 111, these parts being substantially the sameas the corresponding parts also providedwith the usual rear stop casting and saddle plate which supports the shock absorbing mechanism 116. The shock absorbingmechanism isv also of the friction type and corresponds to that indicated by 16 in Figures 1 and 2. The striking casting 111: is pro- Videdwith sidewalls which have coupler key guide slots 113-113 therein.

In carrying out my invention, I provide broadly a coupler G, a yoke H, a combined carrier sleeve and front follower K, and front stop members MM. The coupler G corresponds in all respects to the coupler A hero inbefore described and has a transverse coupler key receiving opening 122 which accommodates a coupler key 123. The yoke member H is similar to the yoke B, being of the horizontal type and having longitudinally extending coupler key guide slots 124 at the forward ends of the side arms thereof.

The combined carrier sleeve and front fol lower member K comprises a tubular section 140 having top and bottom walls 141 and 142- and spaced vertical side walls 143 143. The side walls are shorter than the top and bottom walls, as clearly shown in Figure 4,

the top and bottom walls projecting forwardly of the front edge of the side walls a considerable distance. At the rear end, the tubular section of the .member K is closedby a follower plate element'144 formed integral with said tubular section. The follower member 144 has a rearwardly projecting central portion 145 which has the end face thereof rounded, as indicated at 146, and bearing on the wedge member 118 of the friction shock absorbing mechanism. The side walls of the tubular section of the sleeve are slotted, as indicated at 147147', accommodating the coupler key for longitudinal movement. The sleeve also has top and bottom trunnion members 148-148 which are formed integral with the top and bottom walls and cooperate with guide means on the stop members MAR L as hereinafter pointed out. The forward end of the carrier member K is supported on the carry iron member 130 of the. striking casting 111, therebysupporting the-,coupler shank closely adjacent tofthe head of'the coupler and preventing drooping of the head, thus maintaining the parts of the rigging in proper horizontal alignment. r

The front stop members M -M are in the form of plates secured to the top and bottom flanges of the draft sills 110-410.v The plates MM are provided with longitudinally extending, vertically aligned guide slots or ways 149149 which accommodate the trunnion members 148-148 of the carriersleeve K for longitudinal movement. The slots 149149 are of such a width as to permit swiveling movement of thetrunnions therein but prevent lateral displacement of the latter. .At the inner sides, the plates M-M are provided with flanges whichsurround the'slots or openings 149 so as to reinforce these guideways. At the rear ends of the slots 149149, the reinforcing flanges thereof provide stop shoulders 150 -15O which cooperate with the followersection 144 of the combined carrier sleeve and front follower K to limit the forward movement of the same. The sides of the follower section 1440f the member K are cut away or notched so as to accommodate the side arms of the yoke.

I In the operation of my improved draft rigging as lllustrated' in Figures 4 and 5, during bufling or inward movement of the coupler, thecombined carrier sleeve and front follower K will be forced inwardly through the in- .ward movement of the. coupler shank, there- During. a draft action, the coupler G will be pulled outwardly, carrying the yokel-l therewith and compressing the friction shock absorbing mechanism 116 against the front follower 144 which is held against move ment by the stop members 150150'of the plates MM. 'During this action, the coupler shank will be pulled outwardly of the sleeve portion of the member K. This movement is permitted by the coupler key 123 moving forwardly in the slots 147147 of the side walls of the tubular section ofsaid meniber. During the draft action, swinging movement of'the coupler is permitted by rocking of the combined carrier sleeve and front follower member K on its trunnions 148 ,148, the trunnions having bearing engagement with the curved front end walls of the guideways'149149.

In addition to serving as a supporting and guide member during swivelingjinovement of the coupler, the combined carrier sleeve and front follower K also serves to maintain the I g 1. In a draft appliance for railway cars,

the combination with the fixed'underframe structure of the car; of a yoke member; a coupler provided with the usual shank and having a keyed connection with the yoke member; anda carrier element within which the coupler shank is fitted, said element being laterally swingable with respect to the yoke.

and havingtop and bottom pivot members swiveling in the guide'ways swiveled' in bearing openings provided in the fixed under-frame structure of the car;

2. In a draft appliancefor railway cars, the combination withsupports fixed to the car, said supports having vertically aligned bearing openings; of a yoke member; a cou pler provided with a shank member havinga keyed connection with the yoke member; and a carrier member having trunnions swiveled in said bearing openings of the supports, said carrier having an opening corresponding in cross-section to the cross-section of the coupler shank and receiving the latter; i

3. In a draft appliance for railway cars having shock absorbing means at the end thereof, the combination with a yokemember; of I supporting members fixed to the uiiderframestructure of the car, said sup porting members naving vertically aligned bearing seats; a guide sleeve outwardly of the shock absorbing means, said sle ve having top and bottompivot members engaged in said seats; and a coupler having a shank portion telescoped within said sleeve and extending therethroughto actuate said shock absorbing means in buff, said coupler shank having a keyed connection with the yoke memberfor actuatingsaid shock absorbing" means. i

I 4. In a draft appliance for railway cars,

the combination witlf'front stopineans secured to the underframe structure'of the car, said stop means having vertically aligned bearing seats; of a sleeve having'top and bottom trunnions swiveled in said bearing seats; a coupler having a shank telescoped within said sleeve; and a yoke keyed to the, coupler shank.

5. In a draft appliancefor railway cars, the combination with front stop means fixed to the underfraine structure of thecar, said step means comprising top and bottom plate members, said plate membershaving vertically aligned bearing openings; of a cari'ier sleeve having top and bottom' trunnioiis swiveled in said bearing openings; a coupler having a shankslidably telescoped within said sleeve; and a yoke keyed to the shank of the coupler. r

6. In a draft appliance for railway cars, the combination with front stop means fixed tothe underframe structure oft-he car, said stop means presenting top andbottom walls provided with vertically aligned a bearing seats; of a carrier sleeve having top and bottom bearing members journaledin said seats; a coupler having a shank slidably telescoped within said sleeve; a yoke member keyed to the coupler shank; shock absorbing means and a front follower within'the yoke, aid front follower having a curved front surface concentriewith the pivotal axis of said carrier sleeve; and a bearing block having a pocket receiving the butt of the coupler shank,'said bearing block having a curved rear surface cooperating with the curved bearing surface of the front follower.

7. In a draft appliance" for railway cars, the combination with supporting stop'means fixed to the underframe structure offthe car, said stop means comprising top and bottom wall members provided with longitudinally extending, vertically aligned guideways; of a coupler having a shank member; a yoke keyed to said shank; and a carrier sleeve within which the shank-of the conpler is telescope d, said sleeve having top and bottom trunnion nieansguided in the guideways of said walls.

4. 8, In draft appliance for railway cars, the combination with front stop means fixed to the underframe structure of the car, said stop means comprising top and bottom wall members provided with vertically aligned, longitudinally extending guideways; of a coupler having a shank member; a yoke keyed tothe shank member of the coupler; a shock absorb ing mechanism within theflyoke; a carrier sleeve within which the coupler shank is telescoped; top and bottom trunnion members on said sleeve slidably engaged within said guideways; and a front follower member formed integral with thesleeve and engaging the shock absorbing mechanism.

9. In a -draft appliance for railway cars, the combination with front stop means fixed to the underframe structure of the car, said stop means comprising top and bottom wall members provided with vertica ly align-ed,

longitudinally extending giiideways; of a coupler having a shank member; yoke keyed to the shank member of'the coupler; a shockabsorbing in-echanism within the yoke; a carrier sleeve within which the coupler is telescopech'said sleeve having pivot members engaged within said guideways,saidsleeve being closed at :the rear end and having laterally outstanding flanges at said rear'end providing a front follower member cooperating \vith the shock absorbing mechanism and front stop mean s.

10. In a draft appliance for railway cars, th

combination with front stop means fixed to the underframe structure of the car, sai-dstop means comprising top and bottom wall members provided with verticallyaligned,ilongitudinally extending guideways; of a coupler having a shank member; a yoke keyed tothe shank member of the coupler; a shock ab sorbing mechanism within the yoke; a carrier sleeve within which the coupler shank is telescoped, said sleeve having top and bottom pivots engaging within said .guideways; and a front follower member closing the rear end of said sleev-e and formed integral therewith,

saidfollower memberrhaving'a curved rear bearing face cooperatingwith the -shock,ab-'

sorbing mechanism.

1,1.In a draft appliancefor railwaycars} the combination with the fixed'underframe structure of a car; of a yoke member; a carry iron; a coupler provided With the usual shank and having a keyed connection with the yoke member; and a carrier element Within which the coupler shank is telescoped, said element being laterally swingable with respect to the yoke and havingtop and bottom pivot members swiveled in bearing means having vertically aligned bearing seats; of a carry iron element; a guide sleeve having top andbottom pivot members engagedwithin said bearing seats and guided therein for longitudinal movement, thereby permitting longitudinal movement of the guide sleeve; and a coupler having a shank portion telescoped Within said sleeve, said coupler having a keyed connection With the yoke member of the draft rigging, said coupler being supported forwardly of the keyed connection thereof by said guide sleeve, and said guide sleeve being slidably supported at its forward end on the carry iron of the draft rigging;

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

